Shin Nomoto, a junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in International Relations.

Both students received a scholarship of $8,000 to help defray tuition and other educational costs. The Dilena Takeyama Center scholarship program is intended to assist students from Japan who plan to engage in activities that promote U.S.-Japan relations.

Madenokoji, who received her B.A. in anthropology from Emory University, says she wishes to research issues pertaining to women in the Japanese workforce and gender disparities. In her application, she said that it is “critical to amplify the voices of women if we are to develop holistic measures to create greater equality.” She also hopes to teach Women and Gender Studies in U.S. and Japanese universities

Nomoto said his goal is to become a teacher of both Japanese and English so that he can provide language instruction to students from either country. “I believe that in the process of learning a certain language, students automatically get in touch with each other’s culture,” he said. Nomoto, the first in his family to attend college, hopes to someday start an agency for students who want to explore Japan or America.

For information about the Dilena Takeyama Center and its programs, please refer to the website at japancenter.sfsu.edu.